Above / Naperville’s Battalion 1 was first on the scene, responding to numerous 911 calls reporting smoke visible from Route 59 and Ogden Avenue. (PN Photo)
At 08:10PM on Monday evening (05/23/2016), Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) received a call from a fire alarm monitoring company for an activated fire alarm followed shortly by numerous 911 calls reporting smoke in the area of the 800 block of Beaumont Drive. PSAP immediately dispatched a general alarm assignment for the activated fire alarm, and possible structure fire, which consisted of 3 engines, 2 trucks, 1 squad, 2 ALS ambulances, and 2 shift commanders.
Naperville’s Battalion 1 was first on the scene, within 5 minutes, and reported heavy smoke showing from the second floor of a large two-story, 16 unit apartment building. The Battalion Commander immediately upgraded to an E.M.S. Box alarm assignment due to the high number of potential occupants in the building. The E.M.S. Box alarm brought an additional 4 ambulances and 1 engine company to the scene. At 8:27PM the Incident Commander upgraded the fire incident to a Box alarm which brought an additional 4 engines, 2 trucks, 1 ambulance, M.A.B.A.S. IMAT Chief, and mobile operations command unit (MOC 1). The E.M.S. and fire box alarm assignments brought an additional 34 personnel to the scene.
The first arriving companies located heavy fire in a second floor apartment. Crews advanced charged hose lines into the structure and determined the fire was located in a rear apartment unit. Numerous companies assisted the fire attack team and began an immediate search for occupants. It was determined that all occupants had selfevacuated, however a search was conducted as a precautionary measure. Crews brought the fire under control within 60 minutes of arrival and began salvage and overhaul operations to search for hidden fire.
The apartment building sustained fire damage to numerous second floor units with moderate smoke staining throughout the interior and was deemed uninhabitable by the Transportation Engineering and Development Inspector on the scene. Additional assistance was provided by the Naperville Police Department, Naperville Electric Department, Naperville Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and NICOR.
The American Red Cross responded to the scene and assisted with the placement of all occupants who were unable to find alternate living arrangements. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or citizens.
The Naperville Fire Department was assisted with station coverage by the Warrenville, Wheaton, Lisle Woodridge, Winfield, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Plainfield, Aurora, and Lombard Fire Departments.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by members of the Naperville Fire Investigation Team
News submitted by James C. Kubinski, EMT-P, Bureau Chief – E.M.S., for the Naperville Fire Department
